Directed by Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat, Mandala Murders is a mythological crime thriller series on Netflix. The trailer of Mandala Murders promised an ambitious dig at the unchecked blind faith of people in superstition and religion. A bold cast, including Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Raghubir Yadav in prominent roles, leads the web series, but do they leave a lasting impact? Is the story as gritty as it looked in the trailer? Read our review of the supernatural series, Mandala Murders, to find out.

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Mandala Murders series: The plot

Set in 1952 in the fictional village of Charandaspur, the web series opens with Shriya Pilgaonkar leading the Ayastis, a community ostracised for its involvement in black magic and witchcraft. Whenever something fatal is about to happen, the villagers visit the Varuna forest to make a wish. But the process isn’t that easy, as they must sacrifice a thumb to earn the boon. Mandala Murders progresses to the present day, where Vikram Singh, a police officer, returns to his ancestral home in Charandaspur.

Soon after Vikram’s return, he comes across an unusual murder of Abhishek Sahay, a journalist he had met the day before. Curious to find the culprit, the police officer discovers that Abhishek’s murder is closely related to Vikram’s own mother who disappeared 20 years ago. This sets the stage for a gripping plot, involving local politicians, detectives, and police, all working to uncover the truth. Enter Rea Thomas, the head of the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB), who is determined to bust the myths with evidence. Are Ayastis behind the gruesome killing of Abhishek? Will Rea and Vikram come out alive from the scary Varuna forest?

Mandala Murders series review: A gripping mythological thriller

The web series keeps you hooked with its mystical setting. With a gritty plot, Mandala Murders builds an intriguing story through mythological and gore elements. The moment you feel the plot is predictive, it challenges you and how. The murders of Abhishek Sahay and the Yadav brothers are examples of such key moments from the series that take you by surprise. The eerie world of the Ayast Mandal doubles the thrill of Mandala Murders. Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat’s direction stands out in each scene of the web series.

While the writers attempt to hold all the scenes together, the plot becomes quite tricky to understand. But once you get the hang of it, Mandala Murders won’t disappoint you. Although the psychological substance of the series stands out, the subtle comedy and intimacy sometimes feel forced. The same is evident from the bizarre sexual tension between Ananya Bharadwaj, the politician, and Vikram Singh.

Mandala Murders series: The talented cast

Shriya Pilgaonkar makes a guest appearance at the beginning of Mandala Murders. Even though her screen time is brief, she sets the plot in motion with her powerful performance. Surveen Chawla, Vaani Kapoor and Vaibhav Raj Gupta deliver compelling acts. Surveen as a local politician of Charandaspur is a delight to watch. Vaibhav, whom you may know from the feel-good series Gullak, plays an entirely different role in Mandala Murders. Seeing him in a lead role as an authoritative police officer is a treat for the eyes. Vaani Kapoor, as the sincere yet authoritative Rea Thomas, is equally gripping. Each of these actors brings their talent and experience to elevate the thrilling series.

While the lead actors do a commendable job, Raghubir Yadav’s role came as a complete surprise to me. He plays Shastri Ji, a man who possesses the knowledge of understanding mysterious shadows. From seeing him as the goofy Pradhan Ji in the Panchayat series to now as a serious hermit, Raghubir Yadav never fails to surprise.

Mandala Murders is now streaming on Netflix.

Can you watch Mandala Murders with your family?: No, the series contains obscene language, intimate scenes, and explicit violence.

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